SecureBiz Frequently Asked Questions
Why is junk email called spam?
The history of spam... Unsolicited email earned the name "spam" because it resembled a Monty Python skit where a chorus of Vikings drowned out other sounds by signing "spam, spam, spam."
Early digital marketing pioneers contend that spam is actually an acronym for Simultaneosly Posted Advertising Message.
The first spam email may have been sent in 1978 by a Digital Equipment Corporation salesperson to announce a product presentation. Source: The New York Times, February 9, 2003
What is spam?
Spam is any message or posting, regardless of its content, that is sent to multiple recipients who have not specifically requested the message. Spam can also be multiple postings of the same message to newsgroups or list servers that are not related to the topic of discussion. Other common terms for spam include unsolicited commercial email (UCE), unsolicited bulk email (UBE) and junk mail.
Web sites that are less reputable or have privacy policies that are less strict may sell your email address to spammers. Those who send spam typically have purchased a list of email addresses from these web sites. They send messages from numerous different - and often falsified - addresses to all areas of the Web, which makes them hard to track.
What is an MX record?
An MX record is simply an entry in a domain name database that identifies the email server responsible for handling email for that domain - similar to a primary postal address. With the CIMCO SecureBiz service, you re-direct your MX record to CIMCO so all email from the outside go through CIMCO and its filtering process before it is delivered to your actual address.
How do I change my MX Record?
You need to contact either the ISP or Web Hosting company of your domain name (www.yourdomain.com) and tell them to change the "MX Record" to the CIMCO server address given to you during sign-up.
Does pointing our MX record to CIMCO give your access to our email?
No. The CIMCO message processing centers act as proxies when receiving your inbound email. Messages are filtered in real-time as they are being simultaneously delivered into your messaging environment. Because CIMCO's service is proxy-based, your messages are not stored to disk so there is no risk of lost, damaged or corrupted email.
Do we lose control of our MX record when we point it to CIMCO?
No. The MX record remains in your control. At anytime your MX record may be configured to point back to your messaging infrastructure. You may also lower your MX record's time-to-live (TTL) to increase propagation times.